“Hong Kong Past and Present Series: Kowloon City District” Special Stamps

Kowloon City District boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage and has undergone tremendous changes over the past few decades.  Once home to the legendary Kowloon Walled City, the district has ushered in significant development opportunities since the relocation of Kai Tak Airport to Chek Lap Kok in July 1998.  Hongkong Post issues a set of four stamps on the theme of “Hong Kong Past and Present Series: Kowloon City District”, setting out with the public on a journey through time to savour the past and present of Kowloon City District as well as its changing landscape.

Acknowledgement: Government Records Service, Hong Kong Museum of History, Kowloon City District Council, Kowloon City District Office, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Kai Tak Sports Park, and Worldwide Cruise Terminals (Hong Kong) Limited

$2.40 Stamp
Kowloon Walled City Park sits on the historic site of the former Kowloon Walled City, which was once a strategic stronghold of the Qing empire.  In 1987, the Government decided to demolish the Walled City and build a park on the site.  As time passes by, the once densely built Walled City is now Kowloon Walled City Park, featuring the Jiangnan garden style of the early Qing dynasty.  The park perfectly fuses the historical relics with Chinese pavilions, weaving the legendary past into a haven for leisure today.

$4.20 Stamp
Kai Tak Sports Park is a major project within the redevelopment plan for the former Kai Tak Airport site.  With its commissioning in 2025, Kai Tak Sports Park becomes Hong Kong’s brand new landmark for sports, leisure and entertainment, boasting multiple world-class venues and facilities.  Notably, Kai Tak Stadium, designed around the concept of the “Pearl of the Orient”, seamlessly integrates into the magnificent skyline of Victoria Harbour.  It masterfully blends past aviation stories with modern sports and entertainment mega events, bearing testament to the changing times of Hong Kong while further consolidating the city’s international status as the “Events Capital of Asia”.

$5.70 Stamp
Today’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal stands on the runway of the former Kai Tak Airport, which stretched deep into Victoria Harbour and witnessed countless touching moments of farewells and reunions.  This area has ushered in a new maritime era since its redevelopment began in 2009.  With the passage of time, the runway that once sent aeroplanes soaring into the sky has been transformed into a sleek modern building that offers an unobstructed panoramic view of Victoria Harbour.  Set against the background of giant cruise ships sailing in the harbour, the rooftop park at the top level is now an excellent place for visitors and locals alike to relax and enjoy the scenery.

$5.80 Stamp
Today’s Sung Wong Toi Garden preserves the inscription rock that once stood atop Sacred Hill.  The rock was inscribed with the three Chinese characters “宋王臺” (pronounced as “Sung Wong Toi”), meaning “Terrace of the Song Kings”, in commemoration of the history of two young monarchs of the late Song dynasty—Emperor Shi and Emperor Bing—who fled southwards to seek refuge.   Sustaining damage during the Second World War, this precious relic was eventually relocated to its current site in 1956 for proper preservation, as Sacred Hill was levelled for airport expansion after the war.  The stamp specifically features this monument that bears the inscription of “Sung Wong Toi”, allowing the public to reflect on the piece of history that is inextricably linked to Hong Kong.

Official first day covers will be put on sale at $2.5 each at all post offices from 6 August 2026. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from 6 to 12 August 2026.

Stamp products include mint stamps, stamp sheets, souvenir sheet, presentation pack and serviced first day cover. Serviced first day cover and maximum cards will be available at all philatelic offices only.

Date-stamping Arrangements

• A hand-back date-stamping service with the office date-stamp and the special postmarks will be provided on 20 August 2026 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. All philatelic offices will also provide “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark and its respective philatelic office pictorial postmark. The GPO-1 date-stamp impression will only be available at the General Post Office.

• All stamp products will be available at all post offices starting from 20 August 2026 for 3 months while stock lasts.

• All stamp products will be available at Hongkong Post’s online shopping platform ShopThruPost (website: shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) starting from 20 August 2026 at 8:00 a.m. for 6 months, while stock lasts.

Design:	LAI Wai-ying
Printer:	Cartor Security Printing, France
Process:	Lithography
Stamp Size:	30 mm × 45 mm
Stamp Layout:	Stamp Sheet – Pane of 25 stamps
Souvenir Sheet Size:	160 mm × 85 mm
Perforation:	13.25 (one elliptical perforation on each vertical)
Paper:	Paper with security fibres
Date of Issue:	20 August 2026